SIOG supports World Cancer Day

Taking place under the tagline ‘We can. I can.’, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, all people have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact that cancer has on individuals, families and communities. World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action. Whatever you choose to do ‘We can. I can.’ make a difference to the fight against cancer.

2018 United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) - A key milestone for the cancer and NCD community

In 2011, the UICC membership (SIOG is a member of UICC) joined the global NCD community for a HLM on NCDs with the aim of urging Heads of State to publically recognise NCDs, including cancer, as national health and development priorities. Against the odds, this was achieved, and Governments recognised for the first time the large health, economic and social costs of inaction, agreeing to work towards reducing premature mortality by 25% by 2025.

At the 2018 HLM, national leaders will meet to review the progress countries have made towards the global goal of reducing premature mortality from NCDs by 25% by 2025 and the eight other targets set out in the Global Action Plan on NCDs. To date, progress has been slow, so September 2018 represents a critical opportunity to reignite country commitments to take action on NCDs and improve our chances of achieving these global goals.

SIOG urges its members to get in touch with their Heads of States (and not just Ministers of Health) to ensure they will attend this important meeting. The attendance of these Head of States will give the opportunity to advocate for commitments at the highest political level in all countries. It is currently not guaranteed that Heads of State will attend, but it is imperative they do in order to understand that progress is possible and for them to feel confident in making commitments. The UICC team has developed a short template letter to support its member association in this endeavour. The letter has been designed for you to easily adapt, include your logo and send to your Head of State.

2017 World Health Assembly cancer resolution: From global commitment to national action

As a member of UICC, SIOG supports UICC efforts to approve the resolution on cancer being presented at the 70thWorld Health Assembly to be held on May 22-31, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.

This resolution was developed in the past year as a result of UICC’s collective advocacy and call to action from the 2016 World Cancer Leaders’ Summit. This is a clear signal that governments around the world recognise cancer as a global health priority; the resolution reconfirms the key role for cancer control in the noncommunicable disease (NCD) agenda, as well as underscoring critical steps to accelerate national implementation.

Cancer is estimated to cost world economies as much as US$1.16 trillion annually - a figure that is projected to grow exponentially if action is not taken now to reduce the spiralling growth in the number of cases and the impact on both individuals and healthcare budgets. The greatest financial and human impact of cancer is felt within low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where only 5% of global resources for cancer prevention and control are spent. The 2017 cancer resolution is a direct response to this challenge, providing countries with guidance for change from health promotion and risk factor reduction, with particular emphasis on the tobacco control policies laid out in the FCTC and anti-cancer vaccines, but also the need to address inequity in access to early detection, timely and appropriate treatment, including pain relief and palliative care.

This is the first time a cancer-specific agenda item has been discussed at the World Health Assembly since 2005, with Member States from all regions signalling their support of the process to develop a comprehensive resolution, ushering it through initial discussions at the WHO’s Executive Board meeting in January and co-sponsoring the final resolution.

What is World Cancer Day?

World Cancer Day takes place every year on 4 February and is the single initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global epidemic. World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for the International Cancer Control (UICC), through which we aim to help save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

On February 4, SIOG joins people, organizations, and government agencies around the world in supporting the fight against cancer. Currently, 8.2 million people die from cancer worldwide every year, out of which, 4 million people die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years).

Research suggests that one-third of cancer deaths can be avoided through prevention, and another third through early detection and treatment. Despite having proven interventions for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and care for cancer, these medicines, technologies, and services are not widely available in low- and middle-income countries.

At the United Nations Summit on Communicable Diseases in September 2011, leaders from more than 120 countries declared non-communicable diseases, including cancer, a global priority and committed to taking action to address them.

World Cancer Day is a reminder to us all to take action against the increasing burden of cancer as cancer cases are projected to almost double by 2030.

At SIOG we know the importance of continuing this every day battle with the disease as the population is ageing and as the number of older adults diagnosed with cancer will continue to grow at a steady rate. This is why we strongly encourage our members to sign the World Cancer Declaration and spread the word around them in order to raise awareness and finally come to an end with this disease.

Why is World Cancer Day important?

Put simply, because the global cancer epidemic is huge and is set to rise. Every year, nearly 8 million people die of cancer and many of these deaths can be avoided with increased governmental support and funding for prevention, detection and treatment programmes. Unless urgent action is taken to raise awareness about cancer and develop practical strategies to address the disease, millions of people will continue to die. Significantly, the number of cancer cases and related deaths worldwide is estimated to double over the next 20-40 years. With the greatest increase in low- and middle-income countries, those least equipped to cope with the social and economic impact of the disease. In close collaboration with the NCD Alliance, UICC played a key role in securing the World Health Organization (WHO) target of a 25% reduction in premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2025. However, around one third of cancer cases could be prevented and World Cancer Day is the ideal opportunity to spread the world and raise the profile of cancer in people's minds and in the world's media.

SIOG has been a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) since 2008. Through its mission, SIOG attempts to achieve two of the Declaration’s targets: - Target 7 ”Improve access to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care” - Target 9 “Improve training opportunities for cancer control professionals”. For more information on the World Cancer Declaration.

World Cancer Day was initiated in 2005 by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). It is one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. It takes place every year on 4 February.